Reflector-gasket retainer



June10, 1930. v F. L. BAMFORD REFLECTOR GASKET RETAINER Filed July 50,1928 I I 1 I ran L. agn/orf Y Y.

albino/q Patented June 10, 1930 UNITED starts 1 v iaezase was? orrreaFRANK L, BAMFOR-D, or nnrnorr, ivzrcrzreanyessrenos ro c. IVI. HALL LAMPcorn,

PANY, or nnrnorr, MICHIGAN;

-A coaroimrrori or mrcrrrenn surnames-Gasser RETAINER I Applicationfiled m 30,

The invention relates to vehicle lamps and i more particularly to animproved construction for maintaining a seal between the lens and'thereflector;

it is usual to provide a cork gasket between the reflector and the lensin order to protect the bright surface of the reflector. Fliese gaskets,however,deteriorate rapidly when in use,-particularly, if water isallowed to come in contact therewith as is usually the case when thelamp is exposed to the weather. In such cases the gasket .is apt tobecome broken in removing and assembling the door of the lamp in whichcase the seal is no longer maintained and the reflector is therefore notprotected. it often happens also that the annular cork gasket becomesunseated from the reflector when the door is opened, thereby interferingwith the proper closing of the door.

In order to remedy the defects above noted,

I have provided an improved construction adapted to maintain the corkgasket in prop.

er position on the reflector and my construction has the advantage thatit is simple and cheap to manufacture, although being effec tive toproperly retainthe gasket in position. In the drawings I Figure 1 is across section through a head- 7 0 light provi'ded'with my invention;

Figure 2 is a front view of a portion of the;

reflector showing the gasket retainer in position. i p

One form oflamp to which my invention is applicable is shown in theaccompanying drawings, wherein the lamp body A has mounted therewithin aparabolic reflector B formed of pressed sheet metal. The outer peripheryof the reflector has a return bent 40 portion forming an annular wall Dsubstantially parallel to the axis of the reflector. This wallterminates in a transversely extendingfiange F projecting radiallyoutward and having between the same and the wall D a slightly curvedfillet G. .H is a substantially fiat surface between the curve of thereflector and the wall D.

The door I may be of suitable construction but, as shown, consists of ametallic rim 5 J having the inturned flange K on which is and restagainst the flange'F. The height The band ispreferably formed from a strp 192?. Serial No. 236,314. v

seated the lens L, it being secured'thereto by suitable spring "clip'sM. The door is held in'position bysuitablemeans which, as shown,consists of a spring C at thetop ot the lamp body and ajspring czip- Nengaging'a pro- ]ecting member'G on the lamp bodyat the bottom thereof,7 1 i i With a construction as above described, it is usual to providean annular gasket P of a diameterto surround the annular wall D'60 ofthe gasket is slightly greater than the wall D so that the edge of thegasket projects beyond the'surface IT-and is engagedby the I innersurface of the lens when thedoor is in closed position. As heretoforementioned the gasket'will normally be held inthe position shown withoutfurther supporting means" but to guard against accidental displacementwhenassambliim the door. and'to maintain a se-a l even after the corkbecomes jdeteriora ted, I have provided agasket retainerR'suri'oundinthe outer surt'a'ce oit the asket and clamping the same against theannular wall erably corrugated throughoutits length to provide a certainamount of yieldabil'ity.

of metal, one end of which has'o'ne or'more apertures S arranged thereinand the other,

end having a projecting lip T engageable with one of said apertures tocomplete the ring. The arrangement is such that the band when placed inposition upon the gasketplaces a certain tension on thesame, thus'maintaining the gasket in proper position.

7 l/Viththe above construction, the'effective life of the gasket isconsiderably extended because even after the material itself becomeshardened andbrittle, it is retained in position to maintain a sealan'dis protected and prevented from breakage by reason of thesurrounding resilient band. It will, of course, be understood that'whileit is pre ferred to make thegasket retainer in a single strip, theendsofwhich are secured together in the manner illustrated, the nvention isnot limited to the precise construction 1100 described'but includeswithin its scope such mo'dificationsas would readily be suggested by andwhich are included within the purview of the appended claims.

\Vhat I claim as my invention is:

1. In a lamp, the combination of a reflector having a return bent outerflange forming an annular wall and an outwardly extending transverseflange, an annular gasket surrounding said annularwall and projectingbeyond the same and a separate retaining ring surrounding said gasketand res1l1ently hearhaving a return bent outer flange forming an annularwall and an outwardly extending transverse flange, an annular gasketsurrounding said annular wall and projecting beyond the same and acorrugated resilient metallic band surrounding said gasket, one

end of said band having a recess therein and the other having a pressedout portion engaging said recess to form a continuous ring resilientlybearing on said gasket.

4;. In a lamp, the combination with a lamp body, a curved reflectorsecured within said body andhaving a substantially flat band at theouter edge thereof, said reflector having a return bent portion formingan annular shoulder and having a transverse flange extending radiallyoutward therefrom, a cover engageable with said lamp body, an annulargasket seated on said flange and engageable wlth sald cover and aresilient metalllc band corrugated throughout its surface surroundingsaid gasket, said band being of a normal diameter such as to yieldinglypress said gasket against said shoulder.

5. The combination with a lamp reflector having a flange forming anannular wall, a gasket surrounding said wall and projecting beyond thesame, and a lamp door movable into and out of engagement with theprojecting portion of said gasket, of a resilient band surrounding saidwall for clamplng said gasket on said wall to prevent accidentaldisplacement of the same upon movement of said door.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

FRANK L. BAMFORD.

